(Vor. 3 
320 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 
because of the more favorable position of the terminal cell. 
I have frequently observed a spore attached to some one or 
other of the upper three cells of the spore-bearing organ but 
have seen such attachment to the fourth cell only in S. cas- 
taneum, although often noting on the fourth cell in some spe- 
cies a lateral protuberance similar to those to which spores 
were attached in the upper cells. The spore-bearing stage is 
apparently of very brief duration, judging by the few collec- 
tions which show this stage well. Specimens are usually col- 
lected sterile or with probasidia. It is hoped that the record 
given as to the month when each of our species has been col- 
lected in spore-bearing condition may aid in securing more 
valuable specimens for study in the future. 
Septobasidium is not one of the genera of the Thelephora- 
ceae, for its spore-producing organs are not simple basidia. 
The genus is treated here merely for the convenience of 
students of the Thelephoraceae, as in the ease of Tremel- 
lodendron, Eichleriella, and Sebacina. The coriaceous struc- 
ture and resupinate habit of the species of Septobasidium 
are so similar to those of Corticium and other resupinate 
genera of the T'helephoraceae that examination by the miero- 
scope of sections of the fructifieation is necessary to distin- 
guish an unfamiliar species of Septobasidium from Corti- 
cium, ete. Many of the known species of Septobasidium were 
originally published as Corticiums and Thelephoras, and it 
is probable that careful study of authentie specimens of the 
earlier species of these genera will lead to the transfer of 
additional species to Septobasidium. It is possible that some 
authors may have mistaken the pyriform to globose pro- 
basidia of species of Septobasidium for conidia and have 
published such species as Hyphomycetes. "The probasidia 
may be distinguished from hyphomycetous spores by the 
former bodies remaining attached to the hyphae; the pro- 
basidia do not float about loose in preparations. 
I am indebted to Dr. R. P. Burke for transmitting to me 
in fresh condition spore-bearing material of three species 
of Septobasidium. Spore falls were obtained from this ma- 
terial for germination experiments and some material was 
